Colonel Jon M. Lauder (USMC ret.) is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He serves as both a liaison and a resource to the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, and other government agencies regarding the complex needs of military veterans and their families, as well as current efforts to support them.
He works closely with VA leadership to facilitate proactive engagements with Congress that advance policy and legislation aligned with the Secretary’s strategic priorities. To support these aims, his team provides in-depth briefs, expert analyses, and insights to leadership and members to inform decision-making and consensus-building.
Colonel Lauder’s background includes leadership positions in both the public and private sectors, most recently with the Wounded Warrior Project, Warrior for Life Fund, and the National Hockey League Foundation. He also previously worked with General Dynamics as its Director of Business Development for Marine Corps and Navy contracts.
He is a combat veteran and served in numerous command billets over nearly three decades in the Marine Corps. Among them: Chief of Staff and Senate Liaison Director for the Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs, Logistics Plans Chief for U.S. Forces Korea, Commanding Officer of Second Tank Battalion in North Carolina, and Recruiting Station Commanding Officer in Texas.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY:
2025 – Present Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs, Washington, D.C.
2024 – 2025 Associate Director of Legislative Affairs, Wounded Warrior Project, Washington, D.C.
2023 Director of Business Development for U.S. Marine Corps & Navy Contracts, General Dynamics Land Systems, Washington, D.C.
2023 – Present Community Outreach Ambassador, Warrior for Life Fund, Virginia Beach, VA
2021 – 2022 Chief of Staff, U.S. Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs, Washington, D.C.
2017 – 2021 Senate Liaison Director, Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs, Washington, D.C.
2015 – 2017 Logistics (J-4) Plans Chief, U.S. Forces Korea, Seoul, South Korea
EDUCATION:
2015 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, Washington, D.C.
1994 Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA